GRACE BLOGS COLLECTION
Something that easily gets lost in between this gentile woman’s occupation and her willingness to help Israeli spies … is that she was a believer in the one true God before she ever did anything to help the Israelites. She wasn’t one who was under the law. There was nothing that she (or anybody) could “do” to be accepted by God—she was justified in the same way as all people are … whether Jew or Gentile. She believed in God by faith because of what she heard that He had done.
Anyone can separate and pluck-out Bible verses, miss the context, and then wonder what in the world they mean. One of many examples is found in the first three chapters of the book of Romans. Paul was taking chapters to explain how the entire world had fallen short of God’s glory because of sin—whether Jew or Gentile. But in these passages, he also reveals the good news of God’s righteousness and acceptance being made available as a gift by a source known as faith, which occurs apart from the works of the law of commandments which came through Moses.
So whether one was a Jew under law or a Gentile without the law, all fell short, and all now have the same access to God by faith in Jesus Christ. But right-standing with God has never been attained or based upon what one does.
Jesus spoke to the father of the boy with an evil spirit in Mark 9, and said, “…If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.” Mark 9:23 (KJV)
After Jesus cursed the fig tree, He said, “For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.” Mark 11:23 (KJV)
What a powerful statement! We find the heart and the power of belief throughout the Bible.
Proverbs tells us how our boundaries of belief are established:
“Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues (boundary – in Hebrew) of life.” Proverbs 4: 23 (NKJV)
The heart plays a very important part in believing and living the abundant life. But it’s frustrating when you know the promise of abundant life, but aren’t experiencing it.
Believers have the promise of partaking in the abundant, Zoe Life of God here and NOW!
It’s not a future goal. It’s our present-day reality as we are seated with Christ in
heavenly places. Look at what Jesus said about it.
“For this is My Father’s will and His purpose, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in and cleaves to and trusts in and relies on Him should HAVE eternal life….” John 6:40 (AMP)
“The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy LIFE, (Zoe) and have it in ABUNDANCE (to the full, till it overflows).” John 10:10 (AMP)
We must have a clear definition of what the Zoe Life of God is!
The Zoe Life is the life that the Father, Son and Holy Spirit have and experience for all eternity—a life of unconditional love, acceptance, oneness, transparency, generosity, belonging, value, appreciation and prosperity!
It’s a life of other-centeredness. There is no self-centeredness, selfishness, self-interest, hidden-agendas or ulterior- motives, and no greed!
It empowers freedom and strength. There is no guilt, condemnation, shame, rejection, fear or suspicion! There’s no corruption, decay, loss, lack or poverty!
In 1 John 5:9-13, John assures us we have the life of God, so no one can deceive us. Therefore, it is clear that we already have the very life of God—right here and now!
Estranged and Self-banished from the Life of God!
In Ephesians 4:17-18, Paul warned believers not to walk or live in the sinful ways of the Gentiles. But I believe he was also encouraging them not to live a lower quality of life as mere Gentiles or as unbelievers.
“…henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart.”
To be alienated means to be separated or divorced from. The Amplified Bible speaks about being estranged and self- banished from the life of God!
“Their moral understanding is darkened and their reasoning is beclouded. [They are] alienated (estranged, self-banished) from the life of God [with no share in it; this is] because of the ignorance (the want of knowledge and perception, the willful blindness) that is deep-seated in them, due to their hardness of HEART [to the insensitiveness of their moral nature].” Ephesians 4:18 (AMPC)
It’s possible for a believer, possessing the Zoe Life of God,
to be estranged or self-banished from experiencing and enjoying it because of what we believe in our hearts!
Unfortunately, this is the condition of so many people today.
It is important for believers to learn to guard their hearts, and establish them in the truth of the Gospel.
The current condition of our lives is a direct result of what we have believed in our hearts in the past, and what we believe in our hearts today will produce the quality of our lives in the future.
Blessings,
Arthur Meintjes
